It’s Wednesday, the sun is shining and the politicians are politicianing. Here’s what they’re up to:
Some good news first — you won’t need a passport to get into Canada soon. The state’s new enhanced driver’s licenses will have enough info in their big bar codes that a passport won’t be necessary. Coverage:
- Governor Paterson’s press release, with the basics;
- Senator Chuck Schumer’s thrilled — he’s fought the new passport requirement from day one;
- It’ll cost you more than a regular license but less than a passport, and also get you onto cruise ships without a passport.
Last word: If you like this idea, credit Eliot Spitzer. You’ll recall how much trouble The ex-Gov got into when he proposed giving licenses to illegal immigrants. This was his fallback plan, and the feds agreed.
Elsewhere:
The “No Texting While Driving” bill passed the Senate. It’s pending in the Assembly. One more law that’s nearly impossible to enforce, except after an accident.
Don’t expect much out of the Legislature between now and Election Day.
Senate Republican leader Joe Bruno’s playing coy about his reelection plans.
Shelly Silver may kill a plan to tie property taxes to your income.
Another tax-cutting idea — letting town and village governments merge — passes the Senate and heads for the Assembly.
No new taxes on the rich, says the Gov. He also tells Legislators to tighten the state’s budget belt.
The state’s getting lax on doctors, claims NYPIRG in a new report. Report’s here, pdf.
Child welfare group says agencies aren’t looking hard enough for same-race families for kids up for adoption.
A made for TV news story: Your baby’s crib can kill!!!!!!!
Business groups say the changes made to the Wicks Law will shut out non-union contractors from public projects.
Lawmakers didn’t like the Thruway toll hikes, but couldn’t stop them. Now, they’re trying to get rid of ALL of the people who said ‘yes’ to them.
Did you know Gov. Paterson’s a Freemason? He’s the first to become Gov. in decades.
Atty. Gen. Cuomo beats the Dell out of the computing company, over allegedly false promises of service, rebates and more. Did you buy a Dell? You might be in for a few bucks.
Man celebrates Take Your Handgun to Work Day. At a nuclear plant.
Gas prices: Schools are cutting back.
From the Department of The Wrong Guy Gets Screwed: A Long Island gas station’s pumps are so old they can’t change to prices above $4 a gallon. There’s been a run on gas there.
This poor gas station’s not alone. The state will let stations with mechanical pumps (not digital pumps) advertise gas prices by the half-gallon.
And the New York Times is in the Adirondacks, on the trail of moose poop. No, really.
Talk about this stuff in the comments below, and if you’ve seen an interesting story, drop a link here, too.
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